Description
Comfort meets elegance in this French onion beef short rib soup, where tender, slow-braised meat melts into a rich, caramelized broth crowned with crusty cheese-laden bread. Hearty flavors invite savory exploration, promising a deeply satisfying culinary journey that warms both body and soul.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 2 lbs (0.9 kg) bone-in beef short ribs
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
Seasonings and Flavor Enhancers:
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika (optional)
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- ½ teaspoon sugar (optional, helps caramelization)
Vegetables and Liquid Ingredients:
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 3 large yellow onions, thinly sliced
- 4 cups (0.95 liters) beef broth
- 1 cup (237 milliliters) red wine (or extra broth)
- 2 sprigs fresh thyme
- 1 bay leaf
Additional Cooking Components:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 baguette, sliced
- 1 cup (100 grams) Gruyere cheese, shredded
- 1 tablespoon melted butter
Instructions
- Drizzle olive oil into a spacious pot, warming it to a shimmering medium-high temperature.
- Generously coat the beef short ribs with a robust blend of salt, pepper, and smoky paprika, ensuring complete coverage.
- Place the seasoned ribs into the heated vessel, allowing each side to caramelize and develop a rich, mahogany-colored crust, rotating methodically to achieve an even, deep golden sear.
- Carefully transfer the beautifully browned ribs to a temporary holding plate, letting them rest while preparing the next stage of culinary preparation.
Notes
- Choose short ribs with good marbling for maximum flavor and tenderness during slow cooking.
- Pat the meat completely dry before seasoning to ensure a perfect golden-brown sear that locks in rich beef flavors.
- Caramelize onions slowly over low heat to develop deep, sweet undertones that will elevate the entire soup’s complexity.
- Consider using a blend of yellow and sweet onions for a more nuanced and balanced taste profile in the final dish.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 hours 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Searing
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 360
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 21 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 25 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg